Melanoma is one of the most lethal forms of cancers. According to the American Cancer Society “Cancer Facts & Figures 2019”, 96,480 new cases are expected to be diagnosed in the US in 2019 with an estimated 7,230 deaths associated with melanoma in 2019. One of the major factors contributing to the inadequate treatment of malignant melanomas is our poor understanding of the pathogenesis of melanoma. Metastasis is the leading cause of death in melanoma patients. However our knowledge of the mechanisms that govern the metastatic process is inadequate and, as a consequence, no effective metastasis-specific therapeutic agents to treat cancer patients exist.
The objective of this Research Topic is to review recent data on molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in melanoma progression. We thus welcome Original Research, Reviews, and Mini-Reviews on melanoma, focusing on the following areas:
1) The role of signaling pathways in metastasis
2) Role of cytokines and other secreted factors in tumor progression
3) Characterization of metastasis initiating cells
4) Angiogenesis in tumor progression
6) Strategies for secondary prevention
7) Biomarkers of progression
Melanoma is one of the most lethal forms of cancers. According to the American Cancer Society “Cancer Facts & Figures 2019”, 96,480 new cases are expected to be diagnosed in the US in 2019 with an estimated 7,230 deaths associated with melanoma in 2019. One of the major factors contributing to the inadequate treatment of malignant melanomas is our poor understanding of the pathogenesis of melanoma. Metastasis is the leading cause of death in melanoma patients. However our knowledge of the mechanisms that govern the metastatic process is inadequate and, as a consequence, no effective metastasis-specific therapeutic agents to treat cancer patients exist.
The objective of this Research Topic is to review recent data on molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in melanoma progression. We thus welcome Original Research, Reviews, and Mini-Reviews on melanoma, focusing on the following areas:
1) The role of signaling pathways in metastasis
2) Role of cytokines and other secreted factors in tumor progression
3) Characterization of metastasis initiating cells
4) Angiogenesis in tumor progression
6) Strategies for secondary prevention
7) Biomarkers of progression
